A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend Tony Robbins Unleash the Power Within (UPW) Summit. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what I would gain from it. This event spans 4 days with each day lasting between 12 to 15 hours. There is no set agenda with designated breaks, in fact, on the first day, we went a solid 10 hours before having a break. 

However, I fondly remember reading Tony Robbins's book Awaken the Giant Within during my long commutes between work and home nearly 20 years ago. Looking back, I realize it was likely the beginning of my love affair with self-development, psychology, biographies and the latest productivity “hacks''.

UPW Overview

The summit aims to transform lives by empowering you to break through barriers and take full control of your life, by identifying your limiting beliefs and cultivating a mindset of success. This is achieved through a blend of interactive exercises, such as the firewalk or board-breaking, utilizing the 90-second rule to break out of a negative state and put yourself into a beautiful state. 

Tony emphasizes that he is not in the business of being a motivational speaker - he is a coach dedicated to facilitating the transformations in attendees' lives. 

I presumed that the summit would primarily involve passive listening and might even feel dry at times. However, for those who follow Tony Robbins, it’s clear how misguided that presumption was, as his personality is anything but dry. The event involved constant movement, including dancing, cheering and breakout sessions where small groups of 3-4 people share insights. To give you an idea of the activity level, my Apple watch logged over 13,000 steps during the day - a level of moment I’ve never experienced at a seminar before. You also receive a workbook that is heavily used throughout the event.

When sharing my experience with friends and family, I realized it almost came across as cult-like, but I promise it was far from that. The intensity of the days left little room to second guess your thoughts or feelings. Tony’s first step in changing your state is physiology first, and the constant moving and activity throughout perfectly sets the stage for that. 

Quick breakdown:

• This is a large summit, but participants are grouped into smaller teams led by appointed TR team leaders who are available to help address any inquiries that arise. Because of this, there is a comradery within the team that you are in, in my opinion, that enhances the overall experience. Additionally, a Telegram group is created so you can continue ongoing connections between your team members after the event. 

• Days 1 & 3 were my favourite. We covered how to turn your fears into sources of power, identified our own limiting beliefs using the Dickens Method, and created actionable strategies to move us toward our goals. 

• On Day 2 there was some promotion for additional training, but the guest speakers were exceptional. I particularly enjoyed the process of completing the Wheel of Life, which revealed areas in my life where there's room for greater balance. The analogy is like that of  wheel on a vehicle missing a few spokes—if certain areas are neglected or underdeveloped, it hinders progress towards our goals.

If you’re curious to see how your own wheel looks try it for free HERE. It is interesting to see it visually laid out in front of you.  

• Day 4 was centered around health. If like me, you already have an interest in this area the content may not offer groundbreaking insights, but still a valuable reminder. Many of the other attendees have implemented the advice into their lives and experienced significant benefits.  

A Few Favourite Takeaways and Quotes:

• What can you do within the next 24 hours that will create a massive shift in your life? Often there is something on your to-do list that you’ve been putting off - the email, the phone call that - you can do now that will lead to a big change. 

• As infants, we naturally breathed properly, with our bellies expanding rather than our shoulders rising. Turns out, over time  we have morphed into shallow breathers, and when we breathe that way we keep our bodies in a state of stress. Taking a moment everyday to breath properly can shift you into a different headspace and alleviate your stress levels. Want to try it? It’s free, quick, and easy to do.  

  Take 10 power breaths 3 times a day

  Breath in for 1 count;

  Hold for 4 counts;

  Breath out for 2 counts.

• The 90-second rule. When you experience strong emotional reactions to a situation, adrenaline typically rushes through your body for up to 90 seconds, and then it's gone. Acknowledge how you feel in the moment and allow yourself 90 seconds to fully experience them. Then shift your focus and make your next move.

• If you want good results, be excellent but if you want excellent results you’re going to have to be outstanding. 

• Complexity is the enemy of execution. 

• Trade your expectations for appreciation.

• You get what you tolerate.

The day after the seminar finished, I woke up with what I could only describe as an emotional hangover, and turns out I wasn’t alone in that feeling. But I had techniques to navigate those emotions and found myself approaching situations and conversations from a different perspective. I’m still learning and there are moments I still need to pause and bring my focus back to where I am trying to go.

The Facebook community also played a crucial role in processing and discussing our experience In fact, it even sparked the formation of a book club among members, which I eagerly joined. We had our first meeting last week and it was so much fun to connect with others who had not only had the same experience, but wanted to continue with the same momentum. Plus, I’ve always wanted to join a book club!

Would I recommend attending Unleash the Power Within?

Absolutely, I think there is value for everyone. While the summit was not a cure-all, the truth is, the magic lies in consistently implementing the ideas you’ve learned. As Tony’s says, “Knowledge is not power, it is potential power. The real power is execution." However, it was a fantastic experience and one that I hope to revisit.

If you have had the chance to attend UPW let me know your thoughts!